BREAKING: More COVID-19 cases identified at EPC

ATHABASCA – More students from Edwin Parr Composite School in Athabasca are being contacted after more COVID-19 cases were confirmed at the school late March 26. 

Details are still pending but Aspen View Public Schools communications officer Ross Hunter did confirm in a late-night email March 26 the division is “dealing with several more cases from EPC.” 

On March 24, the first of two press releases stated 22 students and eight staff members were directed to stay home for two weeks after a single case of COVID-19 was reported. An additional 21 EPC students were later confirmed as close contacts through student transportation. 

Later the same day, a second press release noted a second case was identified along with 60 students and four staff who were also directed to stay home for two weeks. 

“Aspen View and EPC administration are diligently following Alberta Health Services guidance to ensure the necessary steps are taken to protect the health and safety of students and staff,” Supt. Neil O’Shea said in the first March 24 release. 

Since the start of the pandemic last March, the school division has directed 103 staff members across the division to self-isolate, along with 511 students, and an additional 98 students who were deemed close contacts through riding the same school bus.

These are the first new school cases in Athabasca since January, when one case was detected in an individual tied to the Centre for Alternative & Virtual Education (CAVE), which was followed by another case a week later in an individual connected to Landing Trail Intermediate School. 

Aspen View reminds parents and guardians, as well as staff, to monitor for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. The Alberta Health daily checklist can be found here. The school division asks the checklist be completed each day prior to attending school. 

If any of the core symptoms listed on the Alberta Health daily checklist are observed, it is advised to keep your child at home and fill out the online Alberta Health Services COVID-19 self-assessment or call Health Link at 811.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.